JK Rowling says ‘no’ to independence with £1m donation

Harry Potter author J K Rowling, who has donated �1 million to the campaign to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom, Better Together has confirmed

Published:08:26Thursday 12 June 2014

Author JK Rowling has stated her support for a No vote in the Scottish independence referendum with a £1 million donation to Better Together and a blog detailing the “serious risks” of independence.

The Harry Potter author, who was born in the West Country but has lived in Scotland for 21 years, has written about her views on her website, highlighting her concerns about the economy and medical research.

Her donation is by far the biggest yet for the pro-union campaign, while Yes Scotland has benefited from £2.5 million from Colin and Chris Weir, who won £161 million in the EuroMillions lottery in 2011.

Writing in her blog, Rowling said that, while she is “no fan of the current Westminster Government”, she has concerns about the economic risks of independence.

“My hesitance at embracing independence has nothing to do with lack of belief in Scotland’s remarkable people or its achievements,” she wrote.

“The simple truth is that Scotland is subject to the same 21st century pressures as the rest of the world.

“It must compete in the same global markets, defend itself from the same threats and navigate what still feels like a fragile economic recovery. The more I listen to the Yes campaign, the more I worry about its minimisation and even denial of risks.”